Phoenix Art Museum gala raises record-breaking $2.2 million

May, 01, 2025

Special Events and Programs

Phoenix Art Museum gala raises record-breaking $2.2 million

The evening premiered The World of Anna Sui; included an exclusive announcement of a $1 million gift from Jordan Rose and Rob Walton in support of contemporary art; raised $1.2 million in support of free-access programs

PHOENIX (April 30, 2025) — Phoenix Art Museum welcomed nearly 500 guests on Friday, April 11, for its annual gala fundraiser The pARTy in the Garden, followed by the late-night afterpARTy. This year’s event celebrated the Arizona premiere of internationally acclaimed exhibition The World of Anna Sui and brought in $2.2 million in support of the Museum’s exhibitions, arts education programs, free-access hours, and vital operations—the most raised in the gala’s nearly 20-year history. The record-breaking event was chaired by Jordan Rose and Rob Walton and Jay Franke and David Herro, with afterpARTy co-chairs Andrew and Jennifer Cooper.

“On behalf of everyone at Phoenix Art Museum, I extend our heartfelt thanks to the chairs, guests, and supporters of this year’s pARTy in the Garden, including designer Anna Sui who joined us to celebrate the Arizona premiere of The World of Anna Sui,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Each year, the gala brings in invaluable support for our mission, and this year, we are humbled to be the recipients of a record-breaking display of generosity, which included a $1 million gift from Jordan Rose and Rob Walton to ensure the longevity of our contemporary art program.”

Set beneath the stars in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden, the gala event captured the spirit of “rock ‘n’ roll romance” inspired by the designs of iconic American designer Anna Sui. Guests arrived in striking fashions and enjoyed immersive décor, an elegant culinary experience courtesy of Tarbell’s, and a private preview of The World of Anna Sui before it opened to the public. During the evening, the Museum announced for the first time a $1 million gift from Jordan Rose and Rob Walton to launch the Rob Walton, Jordan Rose, and Rose Law Group Fund for Contemporary Art. The endowment fund will provide ongoing support for contemporary art exhibitions, educational programs, and scholarship, strengthening the Museum’s longevity in this critical area. This gift, coupled with $1.2 million raised through individual ticket sales, table sales, and donations, brought the Museum to an astounding $2.2 million raised in behalf of the institution.

Following dinner, the Museum transformed for The afterpARTy, an exclusive, museum-after-dark experience that this year was chaired by Jennifer and Andrew Cooper. Guests enjoyed a live performance by international electronic music sensation Felix Cartal, along with custom cocktails, late-night bites, desserts, and art-inspired activities. All proceeds for The afterpARTy also benefit the Museum’s exhibitions, education programs, free-access times, and operations.

Images from the evening are available here.

The pARTy in the Garden Co-chairs
Jordan Rose* and Rob Walton
Jay Franke and David Herro

The afterpARTy Co-chairs
Andrew* and Jennifer Cooper

Table Hosts
Really Big Party Table
Jay Franke and David Herro
*Jordan Rose and Rob Walton
Judith and *Donald C. Opatrny
Suzanne and *Carter Emerson
*Nancy R. Hanley Eriksson and Ronald Eriksson

Big Party Table
Kimberly + Nariman Afkhami
Lee + *Mike Cohn
DeeDee + Kenneth Vecchione
*SRP

Party Table
*APS
*AVNET
*Joel and Melissa Coen
*Gloria P. and Phil Cowen
Kelly and Steve Ellman
*Michele M. and Matthew Feeney
Gebert Contemporary
Jeannine and Ben Gillikin
Kathleen and *John W. Graham
*Sally and Richard Lehmann
Cathie Lemon and Jennie Kitz
Men’s Arts Council
*ON Advertising
*Doris and Hong-Kee Ong, MD
*Rose and Harry Papp
Lori and Jeff Riley
Betsy and Eric Roudi
*Iris C. and Adam Singer
Cole Smead
Snell and Wilmer
Womble Bond Dickinson

Sponsors
Jordan Rose and Rob Walton 
Jay Franke and David Herro
*Sally and Bill Pope
Laurie + Bud Florkiewicz
Francis and Dionne Najafi
Victoria and Frank Boucher
Jamie Hormel
*Jon and Carrie Hulburd
Jackson Family Foundation
Amy + Andrew Cohn
Jane and Rob Freres
Margaret and George Greig
Margot and Dennis Knight
*Jeanne and Chad Miraglia
Diane O’Malley
Lisa + *Blair J. Portigal
Nicole Bidwill
Pete Finley and Kelly Butler
Ardie and Steve Evans
Lee Ann S Fennessy
Matthew Boland and Christopher Greulich
Cynthia and *Martin R. Galbut
*Sara T. and Arthur Gordon
Sharon and *Oliver Harper, MD
Tracy Holton
*Lindsay Jewel and Charles Morrow
Donna and Steve Johnson
Ilana Ron-Levey and David Levey
*Barbara Noble Howard and Christopher Howard
Jillian Ladegard and Joe Wagnon
Bettina and Andy Nava
Amal and Elliot Pollack
Susan and Charles Shields
Nick and Olivia Smith
Lauri and Eric Termansen
Tran Tran, Founder Axis Employment Services
Catherine and Jim Tuton
*Meredith and Charles von Arentschildt
Sue + Bud Selig
Robert Meza
Chrissy and Mitch Sayare
Pat Watts
Harold Dorenbecher and Mary Heiss
Merle and Steve Rosskam
Nikki DeLeon Martin + Scott Martin

In-kind support provided by The Arizona Biltmore, Bloom & Blueprint, and Tarbell’s Hospitality Group.

Underwriters
Program – Bob Lavinia
Program – Greg + Jannelle Peterson
Cocktail Hour – *Alice + James Bazlen
DJ – Jay Franke + David Herro
Music – Erin + John Gogolak
Linen – Judy + Bill Goldberg
afterpARTy Sponsor – *Andrew + Jennifer Cooper
afterpARTy Sponsor – Bess + Leor Landa
Dessert – Rose + Harry Papp
Floral – Judy + Alan Kosloff
Beer + Wine – John Brooks
Artist Sponsor – Heidi Teets

Event Partners
ARTenders
DJ Felix Cartal
Haute Media
Integrity Valet
Latest Craze Productions
Sweetwater Strings
Caffio Expresso Bar

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, an art+music festival, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.  

Image courtesy of Haute Media